The game then went into a lull period where I tried to catch up to the tech leader of the Zulu. I was constantly trading for cash to keep upgrading units. I did anything that would improve my military rating. The Great Wall of the Byzantines was constructed. I also begin the process of building up the labor pool in anticipation of rails.
In 1555 AD I finally enter the Industrial Ages. I do this just to see the Zulu declare war on the Byzantines again. I completed the Great Wall of the Byzantines just in time. I draw Medicine as my free tech. The Ottomans also draw Medicine. The Russians draw a monopoly on Steam Power. The Byzantines also draw Medicine. Persia draws Nationalism. Gifting the scientific civs into the IA was pretty much a waste. I continue to get frustrated with resource locations as I find I have no coal. The empire was just too small to supply the needed resources.
My rep got trashed from getting the 2 points from Egypt for supplying luxuries.
At least Babylon continues to be wondrous:
Just as I though things were getting quiet the Spanish start another war in 1620 AD. What is really disgusting is this forced me to buy coal from the Zulu for a luxury. They are the civ I don't want to help. Spain realized the futility of Conquistadors vs. Rifleman and signed peace in 1665 AD.
How often do you see the Zulu as the #1 civ for science?
Well here is a real surprise. I didn't realize SGLs were even possible. I always play my solo games with them off, as I feel they are too much of a random factor.
This is why the SGL was so significant. I went electricity first to have the cascade broken before I helped to speed up the Zulu to industry. As it was, they had started US.
In 1735 AD I give the Zulu the wines they demanded in utter disgust. The last civ I want to help is the Zulu, but if I refuse the Great Wall of the Byzantines could crack and eliminate the Byzantines from the game. Once I can get infantry into the forts, the Zulu can bite me.
I declare war on the Ottomans in 1740 AD. I don't plan to actually send much military, but I need to get a dog pile going against them. It is impossible to get the Spanish vote with them being the largest civ. I think my best hope to become #1 is Persia, and the Ottomans falling helps toward that goal. My Persian allies do quite well again the Ottomans. My trouble is by the time I arrive the Ottomans are all but down to the capitol. That city is off limits as it is in the top 5, so I am really going to be challenged to help the Persian out.
In 1824 AD Persia and the Zulu ally against me, and that really limits by ability to influence that continent. I manage to sign peace with Persia without firing a shot. I then promptly ally with them against the Zulu. I know they will take out the couple of stray Zulu cities on that land mass.
In 1854 AD I turn on Rome, and ally with Persia against them. In 1870 AD I see the largest nations of the world and Persia is #2. I am making progress in my goal. The trouble is they are fascist, so they waste to much captured population. I am pillaging Rome to death so that the production advantage should eventually let Persia take out all of Rome.
A new war starts against the Zulu in 1814 AD. I was already in the process of reinforcing the Byzantines. The bad news is the infantry walls fails.
The Zulu got way to many hits with attack 6 units against infantry inside barricades. Now I have to go into damage control mode and pray the Byzantines don't get wiped out.
Things get worse when Spain signs and MPP with the Zulu, as that limits how much attacking I can do. The odds are already low of getting the Spanish vote, and I don't need anymore attitude hits with Spain. When I think it can't get any worse, Spain allies with the Zulu in 1826 AD.
This game is so screwed with the variant goal. What really bites is I just lost my last source of Saltpeter and Coal. The war with Spain ended in 1842 AD. I immediately signed them into war against the Zulu to avoid another MPP.
The war cascade mess was so bad that I was forced to give up the Babylonian democracy, and to head back to monarchy. I had no way to get additional luxuries to deal with the war weariness that shot through the roof in a single turn.
In 1832 AD I get some good luck for a change. It continued in 1842 AD. It still continued in 1866 AD. I picked up even more leaders after this that I didn't take pictures of.
